Less Than Angels

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

There was a lot of people wanting more Barbara Pym so I thought she'd be a good one for July, (also a nice accompaniment for anyone doing Jane Austen July).

[Lisa]

Wow, that took a long time to "get into". In fact, I actually had to restart it once. (It seems to have the names of other pym characters? Or is that my imagination? Everard Bone?) I really enjoyed it, but didn't love it. always hard to grade. Curious what others thought.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Not your imagination, Everade Bone is from Excellent Women, lots of the characters make little cameo roles in other books; it's one of the reasons I wanted to re-read them.

[Lisa]

(Always nice to know one is not imaging things! ;-) How is the Paula Byrne Biography? Would you recommend?

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I thought it was great, a very easy read, and explained a lot about where the characters came in. Many were based on people in her life. I would recommend it, even if you only a little interested.

[Lynnie]

I read this earlier this year, it was my sixth Barbara Pym and was my favourite. I loved Catherine Oliphant.

And thinking sbout it now it's one I'd definitely reread.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I read it years ago. I have a couple of books to finish off before I can start this one, but I am really looking forward to it.

[Susan in NC]

I’m picking up a requested copy from my library today, hopefully it’s in solid enough condition to read! One never knows with older books…

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Well, a bit late this month it's been a busy one, but I finally started last night and I'm really enjoying it so far; it's so nice to be back in that distinct Pym world.

[Susan in NC]

I put this aside, it felt so much like other Pym’s, but I couldn’t really find one pleasant character I cared enough about to carry on with - after 6-7 chapters I could see where it was going, I’m just not in the mood for it right now. Other library books beckon! so many books, so little time…

I mean to readQuartet in Autumn with another group soon, girding my loins for that (doesn’t sound like the usual Pym humor that I generally expect-indeed, no spoilers, but sounds like a real downer…) But, I put it in the book pool because I picked up a used copy years ago, so we shall see!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Fair enough, I am not far in and just listening to it this time around.

I liked Quartet, but it's a much more melancholy book; at the time she wrote it, she was getting on a bit and had had every book of hers for over a decade turned down by all the publishers she had sent them to. It must have been so dispiriting, and yet she kept going. I think that feeling of dejection comes through in the book, but it certainly has it's humorous moments. It's still funny, but in a different way.

[Susan in NC]

Tania wrote: "Fair enough, I am not far in and just listening to it this time around.

I liked Quartet, but it's a much more melancholy book; at the time she wrote it, she was getting on a bit and had had every ..."

Thank you, I’ll remember that when reading. Can’t blame her for being disheartened.